Affordable power supply envisaged

THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has assured Tanzania government its commitment to ensure that the country increases the production of affordable power for the attainment of various development plans including the construction of factories. 

The AfDB Vice-President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, Mr Amadou Hott, made the assurance in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a visit at the State House.

A statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications said that during the conversation with President John Magufuli, the AfDB boss said that his institution will make sure that Tanzania achieves its plan of generating affordable power.

Mr Hott is in the country to meet with experts and leaders with the aim of improving the energy sector particularly on power generation.

The visit by Mr Hott is the implementation of the talks held between Dr Magufuli and AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 31, this year, whereby both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Bank and Tanzania.

They also agreed to find out solutions of generating affordable power.

For his part, President Magufuli assured Mr Hott that his government is ready to cooperate with AfDB in order to realise the plan.

Meanwhile, President Magufuli met with the Founder and Chairperson of Bharti Enterprises who owns the global telecommunication Company Airtel, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal and talked about the performance of the Airtel Tanzania in which the government owns 40 per cent shares.

After the talks, Mr Mittal expressed his readiness to list Airtel Tanzania at Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) for Tanzanians to get the opportunity of owning the company through buying the shares.

In another development, President Magufuli held talks with DRC Ambassador to Tanzania Jean Pierre Tshampanga Mutamba at the State House.